
Devastating news for 80s and 90s kids — this childhood staple is going extinct
The ear-splitting sound of Three Blind Mice (or something akin to it) would fill the room for a good 20 minutes thereafter, until we were all out of puff from blowing into the plastic instrument.
It's strange to think about now, but for many of us 80s and 90s kids, the humble recorder would've been our very first taste of music and it likely inspired some of our classmates to go on to play the trumpet, violin, or piano.
But in a devastating turn of events, it seems the squeaky childhood staple is at risk of going extinct in schools.
New research, by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), has found that the number of children playing the recorder at school has almost halved in the last decade.
In 2014, 28% of primary school children played the recorder, while now that figure sits at just 16%, with one in six children learning to play it.
Instead the youth of today are predominantly being taught to play bangers like London's Burning on ukuleles or guitars instead.
The survey of 1,000 children aged between five and 17, also revealed that the number of students who sang at school has decreased over the last 10 years, going from 66% to 54%.
While the recorder might not be a firm favourite anymore and has been declared one of the most 'given up' instruments, a number of others have seen a rise in popularity of late.
Outside of school, for private music lessons the piano remains the most popular instrument choice, followed by the electric guitar, drums, flute and violin.
The number of children playing electric guitar rose from 13% in 2014 to 17% today, while the number of kids playing the flute has more than doubled going from 7% to 15%.
Overwhelmingly, 84% of young people said making, learning and engaging with music was key to their mental health, however there was found to be a sharp drop in pupils learning music between the age of 12 and 15 – which we all know can be an especially difficult time.
For some this change was due to the cost of music lessons – which was found to be a 'barrier' preventing 29% of children from learning to play any instruments at all. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHiT76Bihqa/?img_index=1
This is something singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has recently been vocal about, writing to Prime Minister Keir Starmer asking him to create £250m of funding for music education in schools and youth groups.
As part of the Ed Sheeran Foundation's Protect & Grow Music Education letter, he said: 'Learning an instrument and getting up on stage – whether in school or a community club – is now a luxury not every child can afford.' More Trending
He then asked the government to provide funding for music in the same way that it's given for sports, and encouraged the training of more music teachers.
Speaking about the research, ABRSM chief executive Chris Cobb said: 'Children get to play an instrument for the first time in large classes. The recorder has been great for that but schools are now looking at other instruments that can be used – the ukulele and acoustic guitar among them. Singing is also a key part of whole-class music-making.'
He continued: 'The mental health benefits of music are hugely important at a time when mental illness is so rife but there are so many other benefits too. The tragedy is that the same research shows how young people disengage from music learning, both when they shift to secondary school and when they start GCSEs.
'The challenge facing us all is how we can support schools and the communities around them to help young people continue experiencing the benefits of music.'
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I ‘need therapy'
Social media users described Lola's behaviour as "weird" and thought it was "rotten" that you could buy Ed's pants SHEER-ING IS CARING I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I 'need therapy' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has revealed that she drove three hours to a charity shop to find clothes previously owned and worn by Ed Sheeran. Just days ago, news hit the headlines that the Thinking Out Loud singer had donated numerous items, including Ipswich Town merchandise, boxers and a bathmat, to a charity shop ahead of his homecoming gigs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A woman has revealed that she drove three hours to Suffolk, desperate to get her hands on a pair of Ed Sheeran's pants Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 Lola Amuah paid £20 for the boxers and also got a pair of the singer's socks too Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 And this isn't the first time Ed Sheeran has donated his belongings to charity Credit: PA And Lola Amuah, a mother and bargain hunter from the UK, who 'seeks treasure in people's trash', was desperate to get her hands on some of Ed's pre-loved items. The Ed Sheeran superfan headed to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in Framlingham, Suffolk, in search of the 361 items that had been donated. Posting on social media, upon arriving at the charity shop, Lola gave her followers a close-up look at the rails of items and beamed: 'I drove three hours for Ed Sheeran's pants.' As she picked up a black pair of his undies, which were being flogged for £20, Lola gasped: 'There's a red hair on it, d'you reckon it's his hair?' Lola even spotted T-shirts, shoelaces and socks owned by the singer, as she explained: 'I don't know what to get, there's so much choice.' The savvy saver proceeded to sniff a pair of Ed's socks, as she stressed: 'I've gotta get these.' Lola then headed to the till, thrilled with her haul of goodies, as she told fans: 'You get a certificate of authentication with them…My life is made.' Scott Campbell, EACH e-commerce manager, said: "With Ed-mania sweeping through Suffolk, this is a perfect opportunity to maximise funds and raise as much as possible for our charity, while also getting in the spirit and having fun at the same time." Not only can Ed's fans buy his items from the charity shop in Suffolk, but they will even find items he has donated on the charity's online eBay page. Scott Campbell claimed it is going to be "fascinating" to see how much the items sell for, as he recognised: "Once again, Ed has come up trumps with an incredible, eye-catching assortment of clothing and items - from boxer shorts and bongo drums to jeans and jewellery. I spotted a gorgeous LBD in a charity shop for a fiver - when I Googled it I realised I'd bagged a £375 designer frock "Hopefully the momentum, interest and bidding will rumble on throughout the summer - with every pound raised making a difference and helping us continue our vital work supporting families and caring for children across East Anglia." And this isn't the first time Ed has donated his items to charity - he previously donated donated 450 items to the charity in 2022, which raised £30,000. My life is made Lola Amuah Also, when he became an ambassador for the charity in 2014, the musician raised £7,500 after donating 21 items, including a camouflage hoodie and pair of Adidas trainers. Genie Woodcock, retail central support manager, beamed: "What better time or place to snap us one of Ed's donations than in his hometown of Framlingham. "We're seizing the moment, and [are] excited to see what happens when these items go on sale." Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London. Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated. Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during their own sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes. Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, like Oxfam and Crisis. many also sell from dedicated eBay stores, such as British Heart Foundation and Scope. You won't get the range of bargains that you would get in a physical store, but if you're looking for something specific it may be worth checking online too. Social media users react But Lola's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lola_amuah, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 126,400 views. Social media users were gobsmacked by Lola's clip - but while some thought she needed 'therapy' for smelling his socks, others described buying Ed's previously owned pants as 'rotten.' Stalker behaviour TikTok user One person said: 'If you are serious then you need therapy. Why on earth would you want someone's used undies? Think about this. You are an adult.' Another added: 'As much as I love Ed Sheeran, I don't think I could buy his pants.' A third commented: 'That's f*****g rotten.' Meanwhile, someone else described Lola's actions as 'such weird behaviour,' whilst another agreed and wrote: 'Stalker behaviour.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club


The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I ‘need therapy'
Social media users described Lola's behaviour as "weird" and thought it was "rotten" that you could buy Ed's pants SHEER-ING IS CARING I drove 3 hours to buy Ed Sheeran's pants in a charity shop for £20 – I found a red hair but trolls say I 'need therapy' A WOMAN has revealed that she drove three hours to a charity shop to find clothes previously owned and worn by Ed Sheeran. Just days ago, news hit the headlines that the Thinking Out Loud singer had donated numerous items, including Ipswich Town merchandise, boxers and a bathmat, to a charity shop ahead of his homecoming gigs. 3 A woman has revealed that she drove three hours to Suffolk, desperate to get her hands on a pair of Ed Sheeran's pants Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 Lola Amuah paid £20 for the boxers and also got a pair of the singer's socks too Credit: TikTok/@lola_amuah 3 And this isn't the first time Ed Sheeran has donated his belongings to charity Credit: PA And Lola Amuah, a mother and bargain hunter from the UK, who 'seeks treasure in people's trash', was desperate to get her hands on some of Ed's pre-loved items. The Ed Sheeran superfan headed to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in Framlingham, Suffolk, in search of the 361 items that had been donated. Posting on social media, upon arriving at the charity shop, Lola gave her followers a close-up look at the rails of items and beamed: 'I drove three hours for Ed Sheeran's pants.' As she picked up a black pair of his undies, which were being flogged for £20, Lola gasped: 'There's a red hair on it, d'you reckon it's his hair?' Lola even spotted T-shirts, shoelaces and socks owned by the singer, as she explained: 'I don't know what to get, there's so much choice.' The savvy saver proceeded to sniff a pair of Ed's socks, as she stressed: 'I've gotta get these.' Lola then headed to the till, thrilled with her haul of goodies, as she told fans: 'You get a certificate of authentication with them…My life is made.' Scott Campbell, EACH e-commerce manager, said: "With Ed-mania sweeping through Suffolk, this is a perfect opportunity to maximise funds and raise as much as possible for our charity, while also getting in the spirit and having fun at the same time." Not only can Ed's fans buy his items from the charity shop in Suffolk, but they will even find items he has donated on the charity's online eBay page. Scott Campbell claimed it is going to be "fascinating" to see how much the items sell for, as he recognised: "Once again, Ed has come up trumps with an incredible, eye-catching assortment of clothing and items - from boxer shorts and bongo drums to jeans and jewellery. I spotted a gorgeous LBD in a charity shop for a fiver - when I Googled it I realised I'd bagged a £375 designer frock "Hopefully the momentum, interest and bidding will rumble on throughout the summer - with every pound raised making a difference and helping us continue our vital work supporting families and caring for children across East Anglia." And this isn't the first time Ed has donated his items to charity - he previously donated donated 450 items to the charity in 2022, which raised £30,000. My life is made Lola Amuah Also, when he became an ambassador for the charity in 2014, the musician raised £7,500 after donating 21 items, including a camouflage hoodie and pair of Adidas trainers. Genie Woodcock, retail central support manager, beamed: "What better time or place to snap us one of Ed's donations than in his hometown of Framlingham. "We're seizing the moment, and [are] excited to see what happens when these items go on sale." Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London. Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated. Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during their own sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes. Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, like Oxfam and Crisis. many also sell from dedicated eBay stores, such as British Heart Foundation and Scope. You won't get the range of bargains that you would get in a physical store, but if you're looking for something specific it may be worth checking online too. Social media users react But Lola's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lola_amuah, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 126,400 views. Social media users were gobsmacked by Lola's clip - but while some thought she needed 'therapy' for smelling his socks, others described buying Ed's previously owned pants as 'rotten.' Stalker behaviour TikTok user One person said: 'If you are serious then you need therapy. Why on earth would you want someone's used undies? Think about this. You are an adult.' Another added: 'As much as I love Ed Sheeran, I don't think I could buy his pants.' A third commented: 'That's f*****g rotten.' Meanwhile, someone else described Lola's actions as 'such weird behaviour,' whilst another agreed and wrote: 'Stalker behaviour.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club


The Guardian
14 hours ago
- The Guardian
A year in, Starmer's reno of the UK is going brilliantly. If you don't count the walls falling down
Well, British politics has served up another week of compellingly packaged action. Like Drive to Survive, but for clown cars. Leave it to 'no-drama Starmer' to come up with the only thing weirder and more awful than watching the chancellor of the exchequer sob on the frontbench – wheeling her out a mere 22-and-a-half hours later for an unscheduled appearance at a wellbeing centre(!), where Rachel Reeves had to get her happy face on and pose for selfies. The whole thing gave Keir Starmer the feel of one of those remorseless boyband managers who reacts to one of their young charges having a breakdown by getting them a special injection and shoving them straight back out on stage the next night. I think you can probably do it with a member of Take That or 5ive or whoever, and only run the risk of them turning on you in a documentary decades later. But is it a vibe you want at the heart of the team in charge of the world's sixth largest economy? Yes, imply some allies of Reeves, who are now suggesting that because the (debunked) possibility that the chancellor was crying about losing her job clearly spooked bond traders, she has actually emerged in a stronger position from the whole business. Again: really? Having to physically hug your boss to calm the markets doesn't feel like a textbook power move – but look, like people kept saying last July: the grownups are back in charge. Anyway, never mind last July. Watching the turbo-fiasco of this week unfold, I kept thinking instead of a speech Starmer made in the Downing Street garden near the end of last August. I want to say it was the first reset of his government … ? But who's counting. This government's had more reboots than Batman. And, like that particular character's screen incarnations, it all just seems to keep getting darker and grittier every time. That August speech featured an extremely extended analogy between the country and a house that had some kind of rot, but could be fixed by being completely made over, if you really had a go at overhauling the foundations. Rereading it in the wake of Labour's full-spectrum Commons chaos over the universal credit and personal independence payment bill reminded me of one of those movie scenes where an idealistic young newcomer is telling a guy in the town about the house they've just bought. It's a real fixer-upper, they're going to do it all themselves, it was quite the bargain, but it could be beautiful – and the guy just cuts them off as it dawns on him. 'Oh right,' he says. 'The murder house.' No one is saying the House of Commons was built on an Indian burial ground … but this week's deranged farce certainly seemed to release the spirits of the Brexit years back into its cursed chamber. Much as Theresa May's 437 Brexit votes never actually achieved a Brexit, the universal credit and personal independence payment bill now has nothing about personal independence payments in it. If that doesn't take you back down memory lane, meanwhile, other throwbacks are available. Shortly after 9pm last night, the Coventry South MP, Zarah Sultana, announced she was going to 'co-lead the founding' (what?) of a new party with Jeremy Corbyn. And shortly after that, sources close to Corbyn let it be known he was furious and bewildered this plan had been launched without consultation. According to what one ally told the FT, 'Zarah has really overplayed her hand', which is believed to include the three of clubs, Mr Bun the Baker, and an expired student railcard. Out loud, Corbyn said things like 'Zarah will help us' and 'discussions are ongoing'. Let's pray for peace – if not in the wider world, then certainly in this new and fractured party. Then again, which part of our politics isn't fracturing before our very eyes? It is quite possible none of us will be able to escape the murder house's past. In some ways, the most bizarre thing about the welfare bill fallout was the cabinet ministers attempting to clean it up with the same strange, dead language that a growing number of people feel characterises most contemporary politicians bar Nigel Farage. No sooner had the horror show unfolded than cabinet office minister Pat McFadden was explaining that though there would be a cost, Labour would still stick to its manifesto promises on tax. Is this the gibberish about not raising taxes on 'working people'? It would seem so. Yet even back at manifesto stage, this already felt like a deliberately obscure way of talking that just comes across as lying. Newsflash, Pat: you already have raised taxes on working people. People who run small businesses are working people. And the reason they haven't employed more working people, and in some cases have let go the working people they used to employ, is because you raised taxes on them. By chance I heard McFadden's interview right after one of my children told me they'd seen Reeves crying on loads of YouTube videos. He's 12, so I think that's what they call cut-through – and underscores the feeling that you just can't control politics in the knackered old ways any more. As for what we're feeling – all those wonderful working people out there in the dark – the answer is surely: like we've been here before, and that the dysfunction is more wearying for its familiarity. Starmer came to power promising his government would fix broken Britain. One year on, it would be a start if he could even fix his broken government. Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist